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At our office, it’s not uncommon to see employees who are working
on their computers or talking on the phone gently bouncing in
their exercise-ball chairs to sneak in a core workout in.

Work performance and fitness go hand in hand and employers are
increasingly turning to wellness
programs to improve employees’ quality of life and reduce health-care insurance costs.
Promoting wellness also gives companies a competitive edge
when it comes to their attracting and retaining talent.

Healthy employees can save companies money in other ways, too.
According to a 2011 report on a Gallup poll, "full-time workers in the U.S. who
are overweight or obese and have other chronic health
conditions miss an estimated 450 million additional days of
work each year compared with healthy workers." That amounts to
more than $153 billion in productivity that's forfeited each
year.

Although emphasizing healthy behaviors seems like a no-brainer,
many companies devise a basic wellness plan but fail to promote
it, which causes their initiatives to fall short. Creating a
dynamic, evolving program that will keep employees engaged is
essential for reaping the benefits that promoting wellness can
provide.

Employees who practice healthy habits may perform their roles
more efficiently and miss fewer days of work. This might result
in fewer costly doctor visits and health insurance claims.

In a Harvard Business Review report on
wellness programs, Johnson & Johnson’s leaders estimated
that its initiatives have cumulatively saved it $250 million
in health-care costs in a 10-year stretch and "from 2002 to
2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent."
"

Wellness programs can also empower employees to change unhealthy
habits and make healthier lifestyle choices. They can lead to
lower turnover rates and higher morale because employees
appreciate knowing that employers care about their health and
happiness.

Although these benefits may sound enticing, creating a wellness
program that achieves these goals can be tricky. Here are a few
things you should include in your initiative:

Promote good nutrition. Swap the typical vending
machine items for more nutritious options, organize healthful
potlucks at the office and offer wholesome snacks during meetings
and breaks.

Maintain a focus on physical activity. Encourage
employees to take stretch breaks, offer fitness classes or
discounted gym memberships or host a corporate team's
participation in runs and marathons.

Publish a wellness newsletter. Keep employees on
the same page with a publication that features relevant medical
news, health tips, recipes and information about local charity
walks and other fitness events.

Set up incentive programs. Encourage
participation in healthier events and habits with incentives such
as water bottles, insulated lunch bags, health-oriented cookbooks
or pedometers.

When employers institute a wellness program but fail to cultivate
and promote it, the program does not generate the same results.
As a company's workflow increases, employees' caring for
themselves often becomes a low priority. So employers need to
motivate and encourage employees' participation in fitness and
health programs to ensure that they work.

When developing a dynamic wellness program, consider this advice
to boost participation:

Create easy opportunities. Try to limit wait
times and red tape to make employee participation as simple as
possible.

Communicate effectively. Be sure to publicize
and clearly explain the benefits of the company's wellness
program.

Lead by example. When managers and supervisors
participate, this sets a good example for the rest of the team.

Involve employees in the discussion. Solicit
ongoing feedback from the people using the program. This sends
the message that employees' opinions count, and great ideas will
undoubtedly surface.

Reward participation. Offer gift cards or extra
company perks as incentives to motivate employees to engage in
healthy practices.

A didactic wellness program can sharpen employees’ performance
and improve their quality of life. And when a company invests in
its employees’ healthy behaviors, health care costs may decline
and while the benefits of an active and vibrant workplace surge.